I briefly owned one. It's pretty good for what it is (including the price). The neck is basically the same as that of other entry-level Gold Tone models.

Being quickly outgrown is very much on the tone, not mechanical, side of things. It has a somewhat harsh/thin sound, but it is also quieter than a comparable wood-rimmed model. So not great for playing with others. But for playing alone on your porch? It's a good option IMO.

I've had mine for a few years ac-1 resonator. When I decided I wanted to upgrade the tone I bought a piece of 3" open cell foam and cut it in a 12" circle to fully stuff the pot.
I think it sounds just fine.

We sell a lot of them and they sound quite good for the price. They lack the depth and complexity of more expensive wooden banjos which I think is why people say they outgrow them.

They stay in tune and have decent hardware. I don't think they feel cheap either, just a lot lighter than a wooden banjo.

quote:

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Originally posted by Druid

I know it's some kind of plastic, does it feel like a toy?

And the only criticism I can find on this forum or elsewhere is it's fairly quickly "outgrown" is that a tone thing or a mechanical thing?

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Only the round rim or body is plastic (called "composite" - whatever that means). The neck is wood.

I played one at a shop and found it surprisingly good sounding for its price and components and extremely fun to play. This was not too many years ago, at a time when I'd been paying for close to 50 years. I wholeheartedly recommend these as starter banjos. Open back or resonator, whichever you prefer.

Outgrowing an instrument is mostly about sound: the volume and range of tone(s) the instrument is capable of producing. At the outset, before you develop sophisticated picking technique, you'll play with the same attack and overall feel nearly all the time. And the AC-1 will respond accordingly. Then you 'll develop the ability to alter your attack to get the AC-1 to sound better or more pleasing to your ear. Or as good as it can. If you become an even better player and more of a musician, you'll eventually play with an expressiveness built of varying volume, tone, attack and timing.

At this point, you may find yourself trying to coax sounds out of the instrument that it is not capable of producing. You've outgrown it.

Or you may outgrow it when despite your best efforts you can't be heard over other instruments at a jam.

At about the same time you outgrow a banjo because it can't produce the sound you want or need, you may also begin to feel it doesn't look the part for your playing situation or what makes you happy to own. Not necessarily, of course. The good thing is that when you decide you need a better banjo for the sound you're after, you'll have a choice of instruments as plain looking or decorated as you could want.

Edited to add: Outdoors is no place to store a musical instrument, regardless of what it's made of.

You are unlikely to find a better entry-level* banjo. You WILL find cheaper ones on the used market.

The * is because it's an entry-level banjo. They all have issues, notably with sound - but far as I'm concerned, they're well-made and playable. That counts!

An AC-12 or AC-12A is also composite but with a 12-inch pot. It's mellower. I have an AC-1, which I was pleased with as a beginner, and now also an AC-12A, which I mostly tune to G. I like it even more. I have not played higher-quality banjos.

Gold Tone AC-12 specs:
• Rim: 12-inch propritaty composite (plastic and wood sawdust) with a single 12-inch coordinator rod
• Neck Material: Nato mahogany with two-way adjustable truss rod 
• Fingerboard: Rosewood with 18 frets, frailing scoop and 26 3/16" scale
• Nut: 1-7/16" ZeroGlide nut
• Bridge: 5/8" maple with an ebony cap
• Head: 12-inch Remo LC (Low Collar) Renaissance mylar
• Hardware: Chrome-plated hardware with 16 brackets and covered guitar-style tuners
• Binding: Black ABS binding

The "A Scale" AC12A has 17 frets and a scale of 23 1/2"

When the AC12A is tuned to G, slightly heavier strings are sometimes preferred
Compared to the 11" AC-1, I suspect a 12" rim places the bridge closer to the center of the head creating a slightly mellower sound.

Please correct any errors or omissions.

I woud not store an AC outside. The neck is wood, and that is where the problems will be if there are extreme shifts in temp or humidity. IDK if Gold Tone still sells graphite necks.

When these banjos were marketed with the name "Harmony" in the middle of the Twentieth Century, people often referred to the material as "Bakelite", which is a trade name. The material is a thermosetting plastic. From a marketing perspective, I suspect that Gold Tone prefers to refer to the material as "composite", rather than "plastic".

I found a reference to the Gold Tone AC series "composite" rim as likely to be "Molded glass-reinforced polymer (GFRP/GRP) or carbon-reinforced polymer (CFRP) that combine a plastic or thermoset resin matrix with high-strength fibers.
Apparently Gold Tone makes these banjos with a mahogany or maple neck depending on availability.
I played an AC 1 clawhammer style and found it to be nicer than other banjos in the same price range.
What style of playing are you learning?
I found a Banjo Bolster helped in all of my banjos. But it seems that everyone hears something different when they play a banjo.

I am, as is normal for me, jumping straight into the deep end. Im learning 3 finger bluegrass

You might want the Gold Tone AC 5 resonator banjo.
There are many videos of the AC models on YouTube.
AC 5: youtube.com/watch?v=-_0wdaF4SDA
AC 1: youtube.com/watch?v=luyjus4Iko4

Looked at the ac-5, I prefer the black neck on the ac-1, am planning on buying the upgrade pack from manufacturer so they install my railroad spikes. Very familiar with hammers new to frets and want them right

quote:

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Originally posted by Druid

I am, as is normal for me, jumping straight into the deep end. Im learning 3 finger bluegrass

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I wouldn't call that jumping straight into the deep end. It's a choice.

If three-finger is what you want to play, then starting with three-finger makes total sense. I don't believe other styles such as clawhammer, two-finger, or Pete Seeger bum-ditty are foundations for three-finger.

I do believe all these styles of banjo are challenging to learn as a first instrument. That's because the way songs or tunes are played on five-string banjo tends not to be literal melody (until you get into three-finger melodic style, or maybe jazz chord-melody style, which is not where you start). Tunes on five-string banjo have both a version of the melody plus non-melody accompaniment happening at the same time. It can be challenging for the beginner to hear this and to understand in their written lessons (assuming they're using tablature) which notes are melody and which are accompaniment (filler).

If you're going the self-taught route (whether from books or video lessons) I encourage you to spend some time on exercises that teach chords and having you just strum or pinch chords as you sing or hum a melody, or play along with a recording or just hear the melody in your head. Or some other exercises that try to get you to appreciate how this aspect of music works. If you're coming to banjo from guitar or ukulele, then you should already be familiar with this concept.

Beyond that: listen to recordings of the type of three-finger banjo music you want to play. I believe it is very difficult to learn three-finger banjo without knowing what it's supposed to sound like.

Good luck.

I have had an AC-1 for over a year now. I like it more than I though I would. I have taken it camping for multiple weeks this year and it stays in tune pretty well being kept in a tent or big vinyl bag or hot car. It is a bit neck heavy due to the light pot so rig a strap to keep the neck up.

I'd buy another one if something were to happen to this one. I like having an instrument I can take around with me and not have to be excessively worried about it.

The AC’s are not Bakelite. It is a new plastic formula. Notice the success. These do not vintage due to the molecules.

If later you want to install a wooden rim, the whole hardware set is there and ready to use

Learn to make setup adjustments so you can repeat them with a wooden rim.

I’ve played an AC5 in my shop, it’s like an aluminum rim, loud and forward, I could jam with it without voicing nuances, dynamics are in how hard you hit and where on the XYZ continuum.
Just play and learn, enjoy yourself

I have a 12” short scale one for clawhammer that I enjoy. I have been tinkering, playing, buying, selling, repairing, building some, most of my life, they are worlds better than the old Harmony plastic rim junk. I’ve bought and sold several of the old Harmony ones, and glad they left. I have no desire to sell off the gold tone 12” one. I have way more expensive banjos and many, but it lays out where I can grab it and I have zero concern of the cat brushing past it and twinging a string now and then, which he enjoys doing. I don’t know why, but the cat does enjoy grabbing a string now and then or brushing with his tail, to hear it. I have a friend who calls a lot, and he will hear it and say is that the cat playing banjo again, and it is. In fact, the dog and cat both fight to get near me when I pick. It’s obvious they like it.